SZA Bares It All: 7 Key Takeaways From SZA's 'British Vogue' Cover Story
Solána Imani Rowe never ceases to amaze us. In a recent interview withBritish Vogueas their December cover star, we got to learn more about our queen and what makes her her. The multi-dimensionality is unreal. It’s one of the things Kendrick Lamar loves about SZA.
He told British Vogue, “Her vulnerability through her music is brave and inspiring. She’s a reminder of what the human experience looks like: a roller-coaster of emotions. And that’s okay. We are alive.”
In her lyrics, SZA often oscillates between contrasting emotions and contradictory statements, creating a stream of consciousness that encompasses both love and hate so this interview reflected that same energy. Ahead, find the seven gems we took away from the much-needed feature.
1.SZA Gets Real About Her BBL
SZA got extremely candid about her decision to get a BBL. In early 2022, she began a rigorous gym routine, swiftly gaining muscle mass. However, despite her progress, the growth of her gluteal muscles lagged behind, presenting a unique challenge in her fitness journey.
"I’m so mad I did that shit," she said.
SZA continued, "I gained all this weight from being immobile while recovering and trying to preserve the fat. It was just so stupid. But who gives a fuck? You got a BBL, you realise you didn’t need the shit. It doesn’t matter. I’ll do a whole bunch more shit just like it if I want to before I’m fucking dead because this body is temporary. It just wasn’t super necessary – I have other shit that I need to work on about myself…
"I need to get my fucking mental health together… Not to say you can’t do those things simultaneously, just, for me, I realise wherever you go, there you’ll be. But I love my butt. Don’t get me wrong. My booty look nice. And I’m grateful that it looks pretty much… I don’t know, sometimes natural, but I don’t even care. It’s something that I wanted. I’m enjoying it. I love shaking it."
2.SZA Takes An Aura-Altering Baño Blanco
Also known as a white bath, this act is used to cleanse negative energies. As PopSugar suggests, a baño blanco, apart from purifying negative energy, is a wonderful method to achieve inner peace and tranquility. This baño might be ideal for you if you have trouble sleeping. Think of it as a soothing lullaby in bath form. Hence, it serves as an excellent introduction to spiritual baths for children. The gentle and comforting touch of this baño will calm their souls and gently usher them into dreamland. Simply mix the baño blanco into warm bathwater and let them absorb all the benefits.
3.SZA Suffers From Severe Anxiety
SZA’s manager and Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) label president Terrence Henderson Jr, better known as Punch shares the intricacies of performing at a festival like British Summer Time Hyde Park (BST Hyde Park.) The music festival held once a year in London's Hyde Park lasts for up to three weeks.
"When you do a festival, it’s so much shared space… different crews, different teams, you don’t know who’s who." On her own tour, she’ll "come out, mingle and talk to everybody. She’ll usually pull fans back. With a festival… she’ll usually get off stage and go straight to the hotel."
When labelmate Kendrick Lamar first met the star, he recalls her being a "shy yet outgoing individual who was open for information but always had a question about something. At present, he shares, "I recognize a more expressive SZA. The shy shit is completely out the window – to a degree, at least. She has the answers to some of the things she was curious about and is willing to tell it all in the most disruptive yet beautiful compositions this generation has ever heard."
4.SZA Is Really A Nature Girly
In a moment of reflection during the interview, gazing upon a vibrant purple flower, she fights back tears. "Nature just be naturing and we don’t even know why. It’s so weird, and so bizarre, and magical, and so great. It’s such a reminder: this shit is completely out of your control. As she sees it, the weeds are doing their part and they’re part of the larger landscape.
"They don’t get to choose if they’re a fucking tulip or a tiger lily or a dandelion." Homegirl also admitted to talking to everything. "I talk to plants. I talk to energies… I try to greet them. I leave an offering."
5.SZA Questions If She’s Done With Music
"Every day I grapple with, 'Am I done with music?' Maybe I’m just not meant to be famous – I’m crashing and burning and behaving erratically. It’s not for me because I have so much anxiety. But why would God put me in this position if I wasn’t supposed to be doing this? So I just keep trying to rise to the occasion. But I’m also just like, 'Please, the occasion is beating my ass.'"
6.SZA is Here For Her Day Ones
She relies on her "day-one fan pages" to provide feedback and keep her informed about online discussions. The singer struggles with the impersonality of being a public figure and the constant scrutiny and criticism she faces, including being labeled as a whisper artist and having her musical style pigeonholed.
7.SZA Dresses as A Mood
Whether comfortable or ethereal or intellectual, she’ll always choose moods over a specific look. Her longtime stylist, Alejandra Hernandez said, "[Her style] is very similar to her music: a mix of so many different genres."
As a "child of nature," SZA embraces a bohemian style that's currently making a comeback, thanks to Chloé's new direction under Chemena Kamali. While the boho look is often seen as Eurocentric, there's always been a Black hippy movement. We learned that even though SZA loves Maison Margiela, Valentino, and indie labels such as Ottolinger, "she always comes back to vintage: old Tom Ford or Roberto Cavalli; polo rugbys, cargos and oversized Obama tees."
Read the full cover story here.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Joce Blake is a womanist who loves fashion, Beyonce and Hot Cheetos. The sophistiratchet enthusiast is based in Brooklyn, NY but has southern belle roots as she was born and raised in Memphis, TN. Keep up with her on Instagram @joce_blake and on Twitter @SaraJessicaBee.
Exclusive: Melanie Fiona On Making High-Vibrational Music & Saying Yes To Partnership
Melanie Fiona is back! After taking a little more than a decade-long hiatus, she has officially made her return to music and blessed us with two singles, “Say Yes” and “I Choose You.” While both singles are very different from each other, they both reflect who she is today and the type of music she wants to make. In our conversation, the mom of two expressed what she learned during her time away.
“It's interesting, even when I said it is like coming back, I don't ever feel like I really left because I was always still performing. I've still been public. It's not like I went into being this recluse person or version of myself, but the thing that I really learned in this process is that I think things take time,” Melanie says in a xoNecole exclusive.
“I think often we're so caught up in it, being on the timing of demand or popularity, or, like, striking while the iron is hot and the thing that I've learned is that everything is on God's time. That's it. Every time I thought I would have been ready, or, like, things were taking too long, I had to reship some things, personally, professionally, in my life. I also gave myself permission to make a living, not just make a living, but make a life for myself.”
Making a life for herself included getting married to Grammy-nominated songwriter Jared Cotter, starting a family, and embracing new landscapes, such as podcasting as a co-host of The Mama’s Den podcast. She also began doing more spiritual work and self-care practices like meditation, sound healing, Reiki, acupuncture, and boundary setting, which allowed her to get in touch with her inner voice.
“I wasn't putting out music, and I wasn't experiencing a number one record, but I was being a number one mom,” she says.
“I was experiencing things that were allowing me to heal and get in touch with myself so that I could make new music from a space of joy and freedom, and excitement again because I definitely feel like I did lose some excitement because of just politics and industry and what it can do to your mental health and even your physical health. So giving myself the space to really just say, ‘Hey, it's okay. Everything's right on time.’”
The joy and excitement are felt in one of two new singles, “I Choose You,” which is more of a lovers rock vibe, a tribute to Melanie’s Caribbean roots. While the Grammy award-winner is known for ballads like “It Kills Me” and “Fool For You,” she is becoming more intentional about the music she makes, calling it high-vibrational music. She says her music is a “reflection of my life,” as it captures every facet, from hanging out with friends to riding around in her car.
“Say Yes” has the classic R&B vibe Melanie is known for. However, both songs are inspired by her relationship. Melanie and Jared got married in December 2020, and the Toronto-bred artist dished on their relationship. Fun fact: he is featured in the “Say Yes” music video.
“When we first started dating, I had come into that relationship post a lot of self-work. I had gotten out of a long-term relationship, I had a year and a half to date and be by myself and do a lot of work on myself alone. And when we met, I remember feeling like this has to be my person because I feel it,” she says.
“And so when we went into that relationship, and we started dating, I was very clear. I was like, I know what I want. I'm very clear on what I need, and I'm not going to withhold my truth about myself in this process because of pride or fear of rejection. I know you love me, but I'm coming with my heart in my hand to let you know that if we're gonna get there, we have to put fear aside and say yes. So that was kind of like my open letter to him, which is why the video is us having a conversation.”
Melanie also shares that saying yes to her partner has empowered her in many ways, including motherhood and showing up for herself. Her new EP, also titled Say Yes, will be available at the top of 2025.
Check out the full interview below.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Franco Zulueta
Entertaining Like Ayesha Curry: Expert Advice For Holidays Done Right
Be prepared to wow the crowd.
It’s officially the holiday season, which means parties and gatherings galore. Between Friendsgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve celebrations, many of us are preparing to host loved ones in our homes one or two times between now and the end of the year. No matter the occasion or season, hosting for family and friends is a labor of love. But we can also agree that entertaining can be overwhelming, especially for first-time hosts.
As a seasoned host and entertainer, Ayesha Curry knows something about creating a memorable event for loved ones. Whether preparing for an intimate dinner with your immediate family or hosting a larger crowd, your guests will think you are a pro this holiday season with her tips on everything from welcoming guests to setting a beautiful table.
Q: What is your top tip for hosting?
Ayesha Curry:Part of being a great host is spending time with your guests, which means you can’t be stuck in the kitchen. Prep is key! I usually serve wine with the meal, but a cocktail or mocktail is a great way to greet guests. I prep the garnish the night before and batch the drink just before guests arrive. When the party begins, I pull everything out of the fridge and am ready to serve.
Writer Note: If you would like to offer non-alcoholic beverages for your sober or sober-curious guests, I love Saint Viviana Cab. It maintains full-body cabernet and flavor; no one will ever guess it’s alcohol-free. You can easily create a signature mocktail using Bittermilk’s Smoked Honey Whiskey Sour mix.
Q: Do you suggest any prep for serving or cooking?
AC:I lay out all my serving dishes and utensils the night before with little post-it notes saying what goes where. That way, I’m not digging around for anything. For more elaborate menus, I lay out quarter sheet pans and label them with tape according to the dish. I prep and measure everything for each recipe and then load each sheet pan with everything needed to make the dish. I wrap each tray in saran or foil, stack them, and place them in the fridge. Pull out the sheet pan you need when cooking, and everything is ready. It’s something I learned at the restaurant that saves so much time.
Q: What’s one item that should always be on a dinner party menu?
AC: Bread or roll with butter is excellent for holding guests over if the kitchen is delayed.
Q: What’s one non-menu item you should always have on hand?
AC: For a non-menu item, wine!
Q: How do you decide on a theme or menu for a gathering?
AC: It all starts with the occasion and the guest list. If it’s a group that doesn’t know each other very well, I may get more elaborate with the theme to help break the ice. For a group of friends or family who don’t get to see each other very often, I usually keep it simple so the evening can be all about catching up. A great playlist, good wine, and a family-style menu are all you need.
Q: Should attendees be expected to bring a gift?
AC: If I’m hosting, I’m not expecting gifts. The gift is taking time to come over and enjoy a meal with me! But bringing something to enjoy at the gathering, like a bottle of wine, is always appreciated.
Q: What are three affordable gifts that guests can give a host?
AC:A bag of excellent coffee is a beautiful gift for a host. Sweet July’s House Blend Coffee is sourced from all-female co-ops, so it’s a gift I love to give to the women in my life. Whether it’s being served after dinner or just for the host to enjoy on their own, you can’t go wrong with a bag of high-end coffee.
Fresh flowers are great if you have a host who likes total control over the food and beverage menu. Go for something neutral in color that can work with any décor.
The Sweet July Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar set is my go-to host gift. Bottled in Napa, it’s a gift any foodie will appreciate - and use!
Q: What are some creative tablescape or decor ideas that you love?
AC: I like to keep my dinnerware neutral and classic (like this ceramic collection in nutmeg) and infuse color and texture through linens. For centerpieces, I want to use what I have in my yard. If it’s summer, it might be flowers or greenery, but interesting branches can also look architectural in tall, clear vases next to tapered candles in the colder months. There’s no need to spend a ton of money on flowers.
With Ayesha’s tips, you can create a holiday gathering that your family and friends will cherish forever.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Getty Images